Observations and relocation of a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas

Aquatic Mammals
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Abstract

West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) are listed as vulnerable (IUCN Red List, 7 March 2009; Deutsch et al., 2008), with the subspecies Trichechus manatus latirostris and T. m. manatus (Florida and Antillean, respectively) considered endangered (IUCN Red List, 21 January 2011; Deutsch, 2008; Self-Sullivan & Mignucci-Giannoni, 2008). Manatees are not native to The Bahamas; however, sightings have been recorded periodically since 1904, with an increase in sightings documented in the 1990s (Lefebvre et al., 2001). In the area of Bimini, The Bahamas, the first recorded manatee sighting was in 1904 of a single individual that was apparently killed (Allen, 1942). The second was not until 1996, which was poorly documented. The small adult remained for approximately 6 wks before disappearing (Lefebvre et al., 2001). In 1998, a third sighting was reported off Bimini of a single individual. Although the animal was seen for several weeks and was relatively habituated to human presence (Al Sweeting, Jr., pers. comm., 28 November 2008), no data were collected on this individual nor any photographs suitable for identification purposes.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Observations and relocation of a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas
Series title Aquatic Mammals
DOI 10.1578/AM.37.4.2011.502
Volume 37
Issue 4
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher Document & Publication Services at Western Illinois University
Publisher location Macomb, IL
Contributing office(s) Southeast Ecological Science Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Aquatic Mammals
First page 502
Last page 505
Country The Bahamas
Other Geospatial Bimini
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